President Droupadi Murmu conferred the Padma Shri awards for 2026 upon three prominent figures from Punjab: Dera Sachkhand Ballan head Sant Niranjan Dass, Indian women's cricket captain Harmanpreet Kaur, and veteran hockey coach Baldev Singh. Harmanpreet was recognized for leading India to its first ODI World Cup title in 2025, while Baldev Singh was honored for his four-decade contribution to hockey coaching. The award for Sant Niranjan Dass is seen as a significant recognition for the Ravidassia community. https://punjabi.abplive.com/news/punjab/padma-awards-2026-sant-niranjan-das-harmanpreet-kaur-baldev-singh-honored-padma-awards-874178 #Creator program